Skull Bike Club Softride

Mark Skulls, a patch wearing member of the Skull Bike Club, is a London-based artist and designer who has owned an eclectic collection of rides over the years. This is his latest creation, as wild, dark and hard as his art. Mark rescued an Allsop Softride Powerwing frame with a coat of matte black rattlecan paint, and rebuilt it with an assortment of new and old school parts.

There’s an old FFWD carbon wheel on the front and an H Plus Son SL42 laced to a Halo road hub on the rear. Mark used a Gusset system to convert the hub to a single speed, and a classic Mavic derailleur to provide the tension; apparently the Halo hub ‘screams like a Chris King on acid’. Drive is provided via Speedplay Drillium pedals and SRAM Rival cranks. The cockpit consists of a LOOK Ergostem and Bontrager Crowbars, while Dia Compe 77 levers activate the Miche callipers. It’s a mish-mashed aesthetic, but that’s the point. Softride frames have always held an air of apprehension about them, and Mark reiterates this by stating that he never knows if his seat is at the right height and that he can’t actually lock it up. Not to worry, it’ll make a great Summer Sunday ride—like a technopunk bat out of hell. A look at Mark’s portfolio website will put the bike in perspective, while the Skull Bike Club blog will keep you up-to-date on the antics of the crew.